Czar Alarms Europe By Note To Servia.

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 29, 1912:
Congratulations to King Peter Taken as Warning to Austria to Keep Off.
VIENNA IS THREATENING
Would Enter Conflict if Servia Pushed Her Borders to Adriatic — General War Would Follow.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Tuesday, Oct. 29.— In the present nervous tension regarding the general European situation, extreme importance attaches to a telegram which the Czar of Russia sent to King Peter of Servia, congratulating him that the Servian armies had proved successful in Macedonia without the need of invoking assistance from the outside.
    At the time this dispatch is filed no information had come as to the effect which this telegram, only made public at a late hour, has created in Vienna, but it may reasonably be surmised that it will be regarded as a most unpleasant and alarming demonstration.
    One has only to remember that but for German threats Russia would have mobilized against Austria when the latter executed her Bosnia-Herzegovina coup.

Servia the Great Danger.
    Servia's territorial ambitions, now almost openly avowed, are the chief danger points in the relations of the great powers. Austria will not tolerate a change in the status quo. Russia, by the Czar's telegram congratulating the Servians, practically approves and commends them.
    A Vienna dispatch to The Daily Mail clearly states the Austrian position:
    "The overwhelming success of the Bulgarian and Servian armies is not regarded as sufficient warrant for modifying the determination of Austria to maintain the status quo. Should it become evident, however, that the status quo can no longer be upheld, everything will depend on the attitude of Servia toward her Austro-Hungarian neighbor."
    This gist of a statement was furnished to me today on unimpeachable authority regarding the attitude of the dual monarchy toward the new situation created by the collapse of the Turkish Army.
    "The maintenance of the status quo is not a mere phrase, it is pointed out, but a solemn undertaking to which all the great powers, and notably Russia, set its seal. If the final crushing defeat of Turkey should lead the great powers to a unanimous conclusion that the status quo in the Balkans must be modified, then everything depends on Servia.
    "If she shows by definite actions that she is well disposed toward Austro-Hungary, all will be well. Otherwise the dual monarchy will take her own measures to defend her interests.
    "The dual monarchy will never tolerate again a small power at her gates as the hostile instrument of an unfriendly power.

A Warning to Austria.
    Servia's ambitions for an outlet to the Adriatic through the Sanjak of Novi Bazar cannot easily be squared with the Austrian policy, which regards Novi Bazar as a special legacy on the demise of the "sick man."
    "The Czar's dispatch is a notification to Austria that if she attempts to interfere with Servia's plans, she will find Russia against her.
    This would be the beginning of a European Armageddon because Germany, which supported Austria three years ago, when threatened by Russia, would certainly do so again, if Russia attempted to prevent Austria from interfering in Bulgarian and Servian affairs.
    This would necessitate France and probably Great Britain coining to Russia's assistance.
    It is significant that in England it is being pointed out that no better combination of circumstances could arise in favor of the Triple Entente than to embark on a war with Germany at such a moment, for Austria attacked by the Balkan States in the south and by Russia in the North, would be unable to offer Germany any assistance.
    Therefore Germany would have to detail a considerable number of troops to guard the eastern center and would be unable to hurl the full strength of her army against France.